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When discussing cooling tower performance, a common To further explain the concept, consider a general industrial
misconception arises in assuming the cooling tower determines process which creates a specified heat load, usually measured
the temperature difference between the hot and cold water. In in Btu/hr. Assuming steady-state process conditions, the heat
reality the cooling tower determines the difference between the load will change minimally with time. The process cooling water
cold water and entering wet bulb temperatures otherwise known absorbs this specified heat load and takes it to the cooling tower.
as the approach. The wet bulb temperature is the temperature of The heat load absorbed by the water is given by the equation:
the air if it were saturated with water (100% relative humidity).
Figure 1 provides a visual representation of the relationship
between range and approach. Please note that temperatures are Q = m x cp x T
for illustrative purposes only. Where Q = heat load of process
m = mass flow of water
cp = specified heat of water (constant)
95F Hot Water Temperature T = change in temperature of water (range)
To Cooling Tower (in)
Therefore the range is determined by the water flow rate and heat
load at the exchanger in the process. The cooling tower is neither
Temperatures shown a heat sink nor heat source and thus the heat load is always
10 Range are illustrative only and
subject to wide variation
constant. In other words, Q, m and cp from the equation will
generally stay the same over short periods of time. By deduction
the range T must be constant over that same time period.
10 Range
Temperatures shown
10 Range are illustrative only and
subject to wide variation
17 Approach
7 Approach
Figure 2 E
ffect of turning the tower fans off